Types of termites

There are several different types of termites in the world. There are different sizes, shapes, and species out there and they all do things slightly different from the other. All of them love to eat wood, and they can all do damage to your home, but there are different ways to spot them, different places to look for them and different ways to treat them.

A Western Exterminator expert knows the types of termites that your home and property might have. We use the latest methods to track them down and the latest methods to remove them and prevent their return. Our guaranteed service will stop a termite infestation and keep them away from your home.

Call 800-937-8398 or you can use our online form if you would like to get your home inspected for termites.

Termite mounds

Have you ever seen a picture of a termite mound? Although the U.S. contains various species of termites, ones that reside in mounds actually do not live in this country. The habitat of a termite in the U.S. depends on the type of termite it is. Find out more details about types of termites below.

Termite species

There are four major types of termites that you are likely to encounter in North America. They are:

Subterranean termites -
as you can tell from the name, these termites live underground. They have to keep damp to live and they build mud tunnels to travel from place to place in order to stay damp and to stay protected. They prefer to eat soft woods. If you find damaged wood on your home and the holes appear like a honeycomb, the likely culprit are subterranean termites.

Drywood termites -
unlike their cousins, the subterranean termites, these do not need to be near the soil, do not have to create mud tunnels to stay damp and prefer dry wood. The wood devoured by these insects will appear smooth and you are more likely to find them dining on the support beams of your house, as well as in furniture or even in your expensive hardwood floors.

Dampwood termites -
you find them living in very moist wood and they do not need to be in contact with mud and soil to survive. You more often find these guys in decaying wood such as an old tree stump or a fallen tree somewhere on your property. They rarely end up inside the wood in your home because dry wood is generally used for building, but they might be eating that utility pole right next to your house.

Formosan termites -
these are some of the worst of the termite species we find here in the U.S. They are invasive, meaning they are not naturally from North America, but were likely imported from China or Japan. Bigger in size than your average termites, they are some of the most destructive of the subterranean termites. They are known for creating enormous colonies of thousands upon thousands of termites. It's their numbers that are the reason for their concern because that large a number can destroy a large volume of wood very quickly.

Termite queens and kings

The termite queen, together with the termite king, are the founders of termite colonies. Swarming male and female termites become queens and kings when they mate and form a colony. Among subterranean termites, workers feed the queen and the king. They can live for a long time. Termite queens that are mature may lay many eggs per year.

Western Exterminator: experts in all types of termites

Our Western Exterminator professionals are trained to spot the signs of termites and know exactly what types of termites are at work on your property and inside your home. We can spot their hiding places, their method of access, determine where the damage has been done and then set up a treatment plan.

Western Exterminator is ready to help you get rid of the termite problem that you have right and prevent them from returning. Just call 800-937-8398 or use the online form that's available to set up an appointment.